Home » Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Looking for a boarding school near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for a troubled teen? Would you consider one in Georgia instead?

Maybe you’ve been struggling with a rebellious or unruly teen in your home? Has your troubled boy or girl been expelled from school, or gotten into trouble with authorities? Do you fear for their safety? As a result, you may be considering residential care options; such as boots camps, a therapeutic boarding school or a wilderness program for troubled teens.We invite you to discover Shepherd’s Hill Academy, even though it is not located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. For a generation, Shepherd’s Hill Academy has been guiding troubled boys and girls, helping them get back on track. We’ve helped hundreds of teens from around the country from families just like yours.

Shepherd’s Hill Academy is unashamedly Christ-centered, believing that a change of heart due to a relationship with Jesus is the only true and lasting change. We offer a first-rate education, individual mentoring and counseling, equine therapy, and teamwork exercises to help teens develop character and learn to make responsible decisions.

A Hybrid Between a Wilderness Program and a Boarding School, with a Christian Emphasis

Shepherd’s Hill Academy, located in northeast Georgia about 2 hours from Atlanta, combines the best aspects of a therapeutic wilderness program and a Christian boarding school with several forms of therapy, including counseling and equine therapy. Teens arrive at Shepherd’s Hill Academy from the east coast, south, midwest, western states and west coast, including from towns like: Albany, Springfield, Jersey City, Newark, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News (Hampton Roads), Raleigh-Durham, Greensboro/Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Savannah, Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami (South Florida) and Harrisburg.

The Wilderness Program is the First Phase

The first phase of life at Shepherd’s Hill Academy is a wilderness program, carefully planned to eliminate distractions, build trust and teach teamwork. Removing technology and other conveniences leaves time to contemplate more meaningful issues of life. The necessity of cooperating to meet simple daily needs requires coping and teamwork abilities, giving teens good reason to consider their obligation to others.

The Residential Program is Next

Once the teens in our care display responsible decisions and take ownership of their growth, they shift to the residential program and move to a home on campus. This phase prepares them to transition into society as privileges and personal freedoms are restored.

An Accredited Boarding School in Georgia with Certified Teachers and College Prep

During both parts of the program, teens attend our on-campus, fully accredited junior and senior high school, taught by Georgia certified teachers. We encourage students to get caught up and to also prepare for college, so we also include test prep for the SAT and ACT as part of our regular curriculum.

We can equip troubled teens with the skills needed to become more confident, productive and respectful at home, school, and in the community. We provide a state accredited junior and senior high school on campus. Our unique combination of wilderness therapy, certified equine program, and first-class school is all designed to bring focus back into a child’s life. We also utilize accountability groups, individual behavioral and family counseling.

Though we are not located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, we do have students who come to our school from all over the country, including Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The distance, and the time away from home is an effective opportunity to bring healing to your entire family. Call us at 706-779-5766 or visit the rest of this site to learn more.

More about boarding schools in or near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania. Harrisburg is also the county seat of Dauphin CountyGR and lies on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, 105 miles west-northwest of Philadelphia.
The Harrisburg-Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry counties, had a population of 509,074 in 2000. A July 1, 2007 estimate placed the population at 528,892, making it the fifth largest Metropolitan Statistical Area in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown–Bethlehem–Easton (the Lehigh Valley), and Scranton–Wilkes Barre. The Harrisburg-Carlisle-Lebanon Combined Statistical Area, including both the Harrisburg-Carlisle and Lebanon Metropolitan Statistical Areas, had an estimated population of 656,781 in 2007 and was the fourth-most populous metropolitan area in the state.
Harrisburg played a notable role in American history during the Westward Migration, the American Civil War, and the Industrial Revolution. During part of the 19th century, the building of the Pennsylvania Canal and later the Pennsylvania Railroad allowed Harrisburg to become one of the most industrialized cities in the Northeastern United States. The U.S. Navy ship USS Harrisburg, which served from 1918 to 1919 at the end of World War I, was named in honor of the city.
In the mid-to-late 20th century, the city’s economic fortunes fluctuated with its major industries consisting of government, heavy manufacturing including the production of steel, agriculture (the greater Harrisburg area is at the heart of the fertile Pennsylvania Dutch Country), and food services (nearby Hershey is home of the chocolate maker, located just 10 miles east of Harrisburg). In 1981, following contractions in the steel and dairy industries, Harrisburg was declared the second most distressed city in the nation. The city subsequently experienced a resurgence under its former mayor Stephen R. Reed, with nearly $3 billion in new investment realized during his lengthy tenure.
In 2010 Forbes rated Harrisburg as the second best place in the U.S. to raise a family. Despite the city’s recent financial troubles, in 2010 The Daily Beast website ranked 20 metropolitan areas across the country as being recession-proof, and the Harrisburg region landed at No. 7. The financial stability of the region is in part due to the high concentration of state and federal government agencies.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States, was first held in Harrisburg in 1917 and has been held there every early-to-mid January since then. Harrisburg also hosts an annual outdoor sports show, the largest of its kind in North America, as well as an auto show, which features a large static display of new as well as classic cars and is renowned nationwide. Harrisburg is also known for the Three Mile Island accident, which occurred on March 28, 1979 near Middletown.
On October 11, 2011, the City of Harrisburg filed a Chapter 9 bankruptcy petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.Voluntary Chapter 9 petition, docket entry 1, Oct. 11, 2011, case no. 1:11-bk-06938-MDF, U.S. Bankr. Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.]

Excerpt about boarding schools for troubled teens in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, used with permission from Wikipedia.

Thank you for considering Shepherds Hill Academy as you look for a therapeutic boarding school or wilderness program for troubled teens in or near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Trace and Beth Embry, Founders and Directors

Choosing residential care for your child is the toughest decision you will ever have to make. Feelings of fear, anger, failure, and confusion are adding even more anxiety.

Please find comfort as I remind you that the only perfect One who ever existed is our Heavenly Father--and look what His first two kids did! Continue reading...

License to Parent Radio, with Trace Embry

License to Parent radio, with SHA co-founder, Trace Embry, touches on issues of parenting teens with a goal to equip parents with the tips and tools. Our weekly 30-minute podcast and one-minute daily feature both provide insight and ideas for parents whose teens may be struggling with behavioral issues, anger, and rebellion.

W're a residential treatment center that helps teenagers who are struggling academically, socially, or behaviorally. We utilize innovative, individualized teen treatment that combines comprehensive therapy, education, recreational activities, and alternative therapies. Our therapeutic boarding school is a unique blend of wilderness therapy and traditional cognitive behavioral therapy. We are an attractive alternative to the traditional school setting and "office only" therapy. With separate campuses for girls and boys our residential treatment center program also includes an accredited on-campus school and a caring Christian counseling staff.